Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-12
A LYNcHINo BEE AT RAwLlNs.
The Escape OF Joe Oh am bcrs From
. an Cueuviable Fate, go,

an Cnenviabte Fate. ...,
New York Sun: For many years Oga-
lalla. on the line Of the Union Pacific
railroad. held the distinction Of being
considered by western men the worst
place between the oceans until Rawlins
came into prominence. I passed one
night in Rawlins in the fall OF 1878. and
then | came to the conclusion. that life
in any other town would bc tame and
without excitement in comparison with
the pleasures which that place could
afford. No one alighting from the cars
in the quiet street in 'Rawlins would be-
lieve that the many stories of bloodshed
told OF il were true. On one side of the
railroad track stood a big barn like
building called the United States
Hotel. and on the other n row OF twenty
or thirty one-story frame houses. almost
every one OF which was a barrOom and
a gambling house attached. Over the
doors hung such signs as ''The Cow
boys Retreat THE Divan." and "The
Frontiersman's Delight" Behind the
town at the top of a hill was situated
the city graveyard: an immense cross.
which could be seen from n great dis =
tance. stood at the top of the hill and
served as a landmark for travellers for
miles and miles across the barren
prairies. That graveyard was the pride
OF every man that lived in Rawlins. The
inhabitants watched it grow. and
pointed with pleasure to the fact that
there was hardly man taking his final
rest there who had not come to his
death by violence.
1t was toward afternoon when halted
my horse in front of the United States
hotel after a forty-mile ride. Heavily
armed men stood about the groups. The
looks thrown at me were far from reas-
suring, and pretended not to see them
and fastened into the hotel. Hardly
had taken my seat in the dining room
when four men, evidently forming a
delegation approached me. They de-
manded my business and what brought
me to Rawlins in Il way which left me
no alternative but to answer. My an
swers seemed satisfactory. and one of
them informed me the reason of their
curiosity. They had some idea that |
was deputy sheriff and frankly told
me that if had beenI should have been
escorted out of town. as no government
officers were wanted about Rawlins that
night. They further informed me that
there was to be one OF the prettiest
lynching bees in town that night that
had ever taken place.
Three men had come to Rawlins ten
weeks before. and had taken the town by
storm. They had made their headqunr-
ters at a tavern almost opposite the
hotei. and had levied II tax on every one
who entered. Anybody who objected to
paying or standing treat was beaten and
when resistance was shown pistols were
used. Ten men had received their death h
wounds from these three men. and the
town had determined to set an example
to all such characters by hanging the
three without further ceremony. 1t was
not easy, however. to accomplish this. as
they were intrenched in the barroom
and refused to come out or to allow any
one to enter. 1t had been determined
to dlslodge them that night, in spite of
all resistance. and was invited to take
part in the affair. The three men were
named Joseph Chambers, Jack Willis
and Wat Simmons, and We're desperate
outlaws with large sums upon their
heads.
just at dark the citizens at Rawlins
prepared for battle. The attacking par
ties were divided into two forces. One
approached the point of attack from the
rear. while the larger number marched
up to the front. All the citizens wore
handkerchicfs over their faces. was
with the main body of attackers. or
rather behind it. We were brought to
a sudden halt by rifle shot from one
of the windows of the bcseigcd house,
and one of our leaders fell. Every
means was tried to dislodgc the three
men. but to no purpose. Every time
the slightest advances were made their
rifles rang out, and some one on our
side dropped. At last a small man
slipped up in the shadow of the ada
cent buildings, and threw a lighted can
of kerosene under the building. Soon il
began to burn, but still the men wO;ld
II OF come out. At Hast the house Was
enveloped in flames, and the three
men were obliged to make n rush for
their lives. They were half blinded
by the heat and smoke of the
burning: 90 they were quickly captured.
Then all the citizens of Rawlins, not
excepting the women and children,
| formed in line and marched quietly
down to the cattle pens, where an old
dead tree stood, which had served sew
eral times as gallows. A rope had
been brought along, and it was quickly
| thrown over branch, and everything
was ready for the hanging. 1t was at
first intended to dispose of all three at
| the same time, but there was not
| enough rope, so it was decided to haN z
one at a time. Jack Willis was the
first to be strung up; his end was
FASTENED by dozen bullets, which
were fired into his body while it was
still writhing. Wat Simmons was then
disposed Of. and them came the turn OF
Joseph Chambers. the leader of the gang
! just as he was led under the tree he
made sign that he had something
to say. The gag was removed from his
mouth and he said: ''If you will take
this rope from round my neck and
slightly loosen these bonds, | will tel
| you men something that will interest
you ALL" There seemed no danger with
so many on guard, so his request wa.
complied with. When his fetters we've
loosened he rose, stretched himself. anC
began his speech; "You are set OF
| d villains" he yelled and you car
all 60 to h" He knocked down the
two men nearest to him and made dash
for the sage brush on the open prairie
| All the horses were left outside the bar
room when the desperadoes were cap
tured. Some few men. however, dashed
into the sage after Chambers, which
made it impossible for the men undel
the tree to use their guns lest they hi
some of the pursuers. After an hours use